Comments for Richard Leis, Jr. http://richardleis.com Personal Website Mon, 04 May 2009 18:08:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Evaluating the Technological Singularity Concept by Jef Allbright http://richardleis.com/2009/05/04/evaluating-the-technological-singularity-concept/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Jef Allbright Mon, 04 May 2009 18:08:24 +0000 http://richardleis.com/?p=96#comment-17 I would agree that an understanding and appreciation of semiosis is perhaps the most detrimental deficit of the typical transhumanist's toolbox. It's essential to an effective grasp of context and uncertainty with regard to meaning and prediction, and it's central to the relationship between syntax and semantics in artificial intelligence, but due to its apparent "softness", "vagueness", and emphasis on epistemic relations rather than ontic certainty, it is often repugnant to "hard-core rationalists." I would agree that an understanding and appreciation of semiosis is perhaps the most detrimental deficit of the typical transhumanist’s toolbox. It’s essential to an effective grasp of context and uncertainty with regard to meaning and prediction, and it’s central to the relationship between syntax and semantics in artificial intelligence, but due to its apparent “softness”, “vagueness”, and emphasis on epistemic relations rather than ontic certainty, it is often repugnant to “hard-core rationalists.”

]]> Comment on Evaluating the Technological Singularity Concept by Chris Grayson http://richardleis.com/2009/05/04/evaluating-the-technological-singularity-concept/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Chris Grayson Mon, 04 May 2009 09:07:20 +0000 http://richardleis.com/?p=96#comment-16 Hi Richard, "I am studying, for example, the impact of mass media on education through history..." Have you read any Umberto Eco? I think you would be very intrigued by his writings on semiotics, and the mass psychology of pop-culture. Hi Richard,

“I am studying, for example, the impact of mass media on education through history…”

Have you read any Umberto Eco? I think you would be very intrigued by his writings on semiotics, and the mass psychology of pop-culture.

]]> Comment on My Current Direction by Jef Allbright http://richardleis.com/2009/04/20/my-current-direction/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Jef Allbright Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:35:46 +0000 http://richardleis.com/?p=84#comment-13 You've expressed here some valuable insights, Richard. Quite a few self-identified "transhumanists" have reified their visions of "the future", substituting their certainty and enthusiasm about that future, for the uncertainty and hard work involved in creating a future yet to be discovered. Growth always involves letting go of the old (including its visions) to make way for the new. Sadly, some have gotten their heads just a little above the mirage shared by much of humanity--they see the injuries and injustices due to religion, the inconsistencies and illogic of our present day heuristics and biases--and become so enamored of the improved view that they stay there and make it their own. Glad you seem to have already transcended (that level), ready to discover anew. You’ve expressed here some valuable insights, Richard. Quite a few self-identified “transhumanists” have reified their visions of “the future”, substituting their certainty and enthusiasm about that future, for the uncertainty and hard work involved in creating a future yet to be discovered.

Growth always involves letting go of the old (including its visions) to make way for the new.

Sadly, some have gotten their heads just a little above the mirage shared by much of humanity–they see the injuries and injustices due to religion, the inconsistencies and illogic of our present day heuristics and biases–and become so enamored of the improved view that they stay there and make it their own.

Glad you seem to have already transcended (that level), ready to discover anew.

]]> Comment on My Current Direction by <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1489825457">Michael LaTorra</fb:name> http://richardleis.com/2009/04/20/my-current-direction/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Michael LaTorra Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:00:07 +0000 http://richardleis.com/?p=84#comment-12 Good for you, Richard. Your talents, skills and drive will help build the future we both want. But your present focus on the present moment is just as important. The time is always now. This moment is all you really have. Good for you, Richard. Your talents, skills and drive will help build the future we both want. But your present focus on the present moment is just as important. The time is always now. This moment is all you really have.

]]> Comment on My Current Direction by Todd http://richardleis.com/2009/04/20/my-current-direction/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Todd Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:06:42 +0000 http://richardleis.com/?p=84#comment-11 For what it's worth, your efforts connected me to people who I value very much. Thank you for your efforts. Good things have come from them. T For what it’s worth, your efforts connected me to people who I value very much. Thank you for your efforts. Good things have come from them.

T

]]> Comment on My Current Direction by Ingrid http://richardleis.com/2009/04/20/my-current-direction/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Ingrid Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:01:14 +0000 http://richardleis.com/?p=84#comment-10 Nice post, Richard! :) I especially like this: "I have also come to greatly appreciate the present, with all its animal joys and pains. I will fully experience today, in my modern human form." :) Nice post, Richard! :)
I especially like this: “I have also come to greatly appreciate the present, with all its animal joys and pains. I will fully experience today, in my modern human form.”

:)

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